Is Breastfeeding In Public OK?

[dobopoq]

Anything is possible, but some things are not likely to happen. At any rate, I'm sure that OSHA bureaucrats have taken care of most of the issues you speak of, along with the health departments, risk management departments, and cadres of lawyers behind most businesses and business practices.

You are much more likely to find some disgruntled person spitting on your food or whizzing in your coffee than seeing a boob flopping out adding icing to your donut.

Yes. Please understand that I included the "(except foodservice)" qualification merely to encourage people to choose the option indicative of the most liberal attitude toward breastfeeding of which I am one. I thought that if I didn't add that qualifier, lots of people would respond with, "yes, breatfeeding is great - except for when....etc." type responses. I guess it over-complicated the meaning - I hope this clarifies for you what my intentions for it were.

 

[Planner Groupie]

.

Don't you think it is possible that say a baker at a restaurant could have some spill into a batch of dough?

I am almost speechless at this question. Unless she is literally hanging over the bowl and squeezing her breast, but who in their right mind would do that? Seriously!

 

[Zoning Goddess]

I think that other measures should be taken for those cases such as using a pump and bottling.

Maybe you guys should masturbate before you go out in public so we don't have to see your "tents" and explain those to our kids! good grief!

Why should a woman have to spend the time and discomfort involved with pumping when you probably won't even notice what she's doing in the first place?

 

[Wannaplan?]

tsunamisurvivornv1

That's where you are wrong. You can most certainly get pregnant again while breastfeeding. There are plenty of women who learned this the hard way and now have Irish Twins.

My bad. (But you don't have to be such a Dutch Uncle with British Teeth... ;-)) I had thought lactation prevented ovulation. Thanks for the clarification.



[ot]

Maybe you guys should masturbate before you go out in public so we don't have to see your "tents" and explain those to our kids!

Maybe we should masturbate in public to teach those no-good breast-feeding lactivists a lesson?! :-D [/ot]



[ot]I like the image posted by maister, it's titled "tsunami survivor." :-D Ha ha![/ot]

 

[dobopoq]

I am almost speechless at this question. Unless she is literally hanging over the bowl and squeezing her breast, but who in their right mind would do that? Seriously!

Please see my comments in post #51 of this thread.

 

[SkeLeton]

Breast feeding is ok in my book anywhere when the baby requires, as long as it's discreet enough, so no breasts hanging...

I don't see how anybody would see a breast like a sexual object in that context... IT HAS A BABY ATTACHED THERE!!

Oh and if some puritans whine about it.... God put those breasts there TO FEED BABIES! So stop whining.

 

[Rumpy Tunanator]

Sorry, but.....

........this thread is making me thirsty.:-| :-c :w: 8-!









BOT: Doing it anywhere is fine by me. I remember when I worked at mcdonaldsss in high school was the first time I saw it in public. Nothing to get all worked up about. Its only natural.

 

[imaplanner]

Maybe you guys should masturbate before you go out in public

well that goes without saying.

 

[michaelskis]

God put those breasts there TO FEED BABIES! So stop whining.

God gave men and women reproductive parts to procreate... should people be permitted to have sex on a table at McDonald’s? Or even making out in Olive Garden... it's just kissing...

Additionally, there are many things that a person does not do in public, imagine of people started doing all of those in restaurants? If a person is using foul language towards the other members his eating party, I am still offended even though it is not directed to me.

When I go into a restaurant, I expect to be able to eat a meal in a setting that does not make me uncomfortable.

 

[NHPlanner]

Moderator note:

I know this is the FAC....but let's leave the kitting killing comments for another thread.....thanks.

 

[SkeLeton]

God gave men and women reproductive parts to procreate... should people be permitted to have sex on a table at McDonald’s? Or even making out in Olive Garden... it's just kissing...

Additionally, there are many things that a person does not do in public, imagine of people started doing all of those in restaurants? If a person is using foul language towards the other members his eating party, I am still offended even though it is not directed to me.

When I go into a restaurant, I expect to be able to eat a meal in a setting that does not make me uncomfortable.

You fail to see the point... breasts= food for babies... think about a paralitic person.. that needs to be fed... and you're saying that they can't do in anywhere because it upsets you... that paralitic person is hungry and wants to eat... but thanks to you has to go to the bathroom or somewhere "private" to eat... now change paralitic with baby.

Of course people can't have sex in a restaurant while eating there... that IS a private thing and can't be done discreetly..

 

[Downtown]

God gave men and women reproductive parts to procreate... should people be permitted to have sex on a table at McDonald’s? Or even making out in Olive Garden... it's just kissing...

People don't HAVE to have sex. Babies DO have to eat.

Additionally, there are many things that a person does not do in public, imagine of people started doing all of those in restaurants? If a person is using foul language towards the other members his eating party, I am still offended even though it is not directed to me.

a) Do you really want to equate breastfeeding with profanity?

b) You do not have to watch a woman breastfeed. You can avert your eyes. And I know that most men have selective hearing, but I don't think that means you *physically* can choose to NOT listen to something.

Babies have a *biological* need to eat. Most women that NIP are not making a political statement, or trying to advance a "lifestyle" choice - they're simply giving their baby food. The food that the US Surgeon General, The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Assn all agree is the healthiest and preferred food for young infants.

Disruptions in feeding cycles - due to pumping, or stretching out intervals between nursing, can adversely affect milk supply. Because you feel 2 seconds of discomfort as your eyes glance at a breastfeeding woman really isn't justification for all the repercussions that could result from her pumping, or putting off a feeding.

 

[Seabishop]

While there definitely are jerky guys who think breast feeding should be done in dungeons there are also (mostly) older women who were taught that breast feeding is primitive and should not be done by civilized people. These women are the ones who more p*ssed off my wife, especially since they feel more freedom to make haughty comments. I've never seen a women breastfeed non-discretely in public.

I'll let the ladies attack Michaelskis. ;-)

 

[giff57]

Sorry to tell you guys this, but there are things in your food that are much worse than a few drops of human milk......... You drink cow's milk and goat's milk but human milk will poison you... I can't believe some of the stuff I'm reading here. You would think educated folk like yourselves would be a little more enlightened than that.

jeez :-c

 

[zman]

This did not bother me as I ate lunch today. :-|

We're all human, and we all have the ability to turn away from something we may find offensive.

 

[wahday]

God gave men and women reproductive parts to procreate... should people be permitted to have sex on a table at McDonald’s? Or even making out in Olive Garden... it's just kissing...

Wow. I have two kids and I never knew breasts were a necessary part of procreation (though they may enhance the experience.;-) ). I feel like I've missed out...

Seriously though, breasts are not reproductive parts.

Furthermore, breastfeeding is not a sexual activity. While it may be true that some women are more "in-your-face" about it, perhaps to make a point (though personally I have never experienced this), I think the majority of people are discreet, aware that flashing your breast in public makes people uncomfortable. Incidentally, it is not necessary to really expose yourself to feed a baby. My wife does it all the time and most of the time, no one is even aware our baby is feeding and not just sleeping.

BTW, I don't think there is any law against making out in Olive Garden either...

 

[michaelskis]

Say what you will. Personally I am very uncomfortable when I am in a restaurant and I see someone breast feeding. I have gotten up to leave before and I will continue to do that. Fortunately for me, it is a very rare occasion that this happens so I still continue to eat out on occasion. For me, there are activities that should not be done in a restaurant. These structures are intended for people to go and consume food that is prepared by the said establishment... not a mammary excretion station.

In other places such as buses, the park, department stores, and such, no problems what so ever, but in restaurants... yea, it's not something that I find acceptable. If this means that some people thing that I am a prehistoric overly conservative jerk, oh well.

I'll let the ladies attack Michaelskis. ;-)

I also don't think that I should be attacked for stating my personal opinion.

 

[NHPlanner]

I'll let the ladies attack Michaelskis. ;-)

I also don't think that I should be attacked for stating my personal opinion.

Moderator note:

As long as it's the idea that is "attacked" and not the person, mods are not going to step in. So far no lines crossed.

 

[cch]

Wow, some of these comments are totally ridiculous and ignorant. All I can say is thank goodness women are the ones who have the babies and the ones who nurse the babies, because men would not be able to handle it, being as breast milk must be the most disgusting substance known to the world. Men will never understand what is like to have rock-hard boobies that feels like a giant, throbbing bruises because they are engorged. Or the way boobies leak and get even more painful when your baby starts crying out of hunger. The only way to quickly remedy these discomforts is to nurse your baby. I suppose women have to be sequesterd to their homes during the months that they choose to nurse their babies.

 

[dobopoq]

Well, with 46 votes so far, the only two in favor of total sequestration of breastfeeding, were cast by men. On the other hand, the number of men who want no restrictions at all vs. those who believe some should exist is 3 to 1. Women are about evenly divided between some wanting minor restrictions, and some wanting none at all.

So at this point, it appears that male cyburbians are more pro-public breastfeeding than female cyburbians. Perhaps females feel it is innapropriate for school age children to see bare breasts. Perhaps it also simply comes from the understanding that goes with having breasts and having experienced how easily they can draw unwanted attention.

 

[giff57]

Ok, I wasn't going to do this but:

"We are already eating insects on a daily basis," Johlas–Szalkowski said. "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows a number of eggs, insects or insect parts in food. You just don't know it."

"Have you ever eat frozen broccoli?" she asked.

"Yes," much of the crowd answered, raising their arms high in the air.

Sixty aphids are allowed per 3.5 ounces of frozen broccoli. There can be up to 203 fruit maggots in 200 grams of tomato juice, 74 mites in 100 grams of canned mushrooms, 34 fruit flies in every cup of raisins.

And chocolate can have 80 microscopic insect fragments per 100 grams.

And that's not to mention the rodent droppings and parts. Perhaps you squeamish folks should quit eating all together.

 

[zman]

So at this point, it appears that male cyburbians are more pro-public breastfeeding than female cyburbians.

For the record, I am also pro-topless women in public. But that is another thread. :-$ :6:

 

[imaplanner]

Wow, some of these comments are totally ridiculous and ignorant. All I can say is thank goodness women are the ones who have the babies and the ones who nurse the babies, because men would not be able to handle it, being as breast milk must be the most disgusting substance known to the world. .

Most of the men here have stated that they don't have a problem with it. The article that spurred this conversation stated that it was mostly women who were outraged at the image on the cover of the magazine. So if you had to generalize I think a correct generalization would be that the women were the ridiculous and ignorant ones. ;-)

 

[Zoning Goddess]

What grosses me out way more than breast-feeding in a restaurant: extremely hirsute men in tank tops, hunched over their food and shoveling it in as fast as they can.

I was on a date once and the guy suddenly demanded we leave. Well, behind me was a handicapped guy in a wheelchair who was slobbering, drooling, etc as he was being fed, and my date just couldn't handle it.

Where do you draw the line about what makes people uncomfortable. Do we ban hairy men or the disabled from restaurants?

M'skis, what do your friends, co-workers, GF think when you leave a restaurant because a woman is breast-feeding? I really am curious, this is not an attack.

 

[Richmond Jake]

Okay, maybe I'll be the first to admit it. (I've seen many women NIP. As I said, it doesn't bother me.) I happen to find it kind of erotic. Maybe that's why it doesn't disturb me? But then, I'm a pervert, I guess. :-$

 

[sisterceleste]

There is nothing obscene or sexual about breastfeading so it shouldn't be prohibited or restricted. However, if I were a nursing mother, I would use discretion about when and where to feed my child.

I agree with Planerella

 

[btrage]

I think another problem that many men have is that they will never understand what breastfeeding does for the emotional bond between a mother and child. It's a powerful thing that we'll never experience.

What I really think it comes down to (and someone mentioned this before) is the feeling that breastfeeding is somehow primitive, like only a third-rate mother would pull her breast out and feed her child. A more prim and proper mother would only do such a thing in private.

I guess I'm having a hard time understanding why it would be inappropriate to breastfeed a baby in a restaurant. What is so disgusting or unsightly about it? As I think ZG said, I'd rather watch that than some of the unkept slobs that are eating along side me.

Put yourself in the mother's shoe. What would you do if your baby was hungry? Is a mother never supposed to eat another meal outside of the house until the child stops breastfeeding. This has gotten me so riled up, I swear if I'm ever out and someone makes a negative comment about a woman breastfeeding, I think I may lose it.....................OK, I'm calm now.

 

[imaplanner]

This has gotten me so riled up, I swear if I'm ever out and someone makes a negative comment about a woman breastfeeding, I think I may lose it.....................OK, I'm calm now.

I've said before I persoannly have no problem with it. But apparantly some people do. I don't know exactly why some people find it so offensive or disturbing but I think it is certainly their right to feel that way.

 

[Michele Zone]

I have no hangups on that, it is what they were designed for, after all.

Actually, the human breast is a sexual thing. The fullness of the human breast serves no practical function. In the works of Desmond Morris, it is suggested that full, round breasts were developed to echo the shape of the female buttocks as the species evolved from the typical rear-entry position of most primates to prefering a face-to-face position. Human breasts are so full that it can actually interfere with the ability of the baby to nurse, something you don't see in other primates.

That's where you are wrong. You can most certainly get pregnant again while breastfeeding. There are plenty of women who learned this the hard way and now have Irish Twins.

From what I have read, the myth that one cannot get pregnant while breastfeeding arises from the fact that in subsistence cultures a woman who is breastfeeding has enormous difficulty gaining sufficient weight to be fertile. A woman who is too thin has reduced fertility. Very devoted female athletes sometimes lose their periods when their body fat ratio drops too low. Occasionally, a fertility problem can be resolved by having the woman gain 5 pounds. Modern American women usually have no trouble getting enough to eat to resume normal fertility while breast feeding.

I breast fed my oldest until I found out I was pregnant with my second. It wasn't some "plan" of mine. I had actually tried to wean him earlier and was too clueless to succeed and my childless (at that time) older sister was no less clueless, so she was no help at all. Given his health problems, I feel it all worked out for the best. I did breast feed in public sometimes. However, I was in Germany for part of that time, where it isn't such a big deal. <shrug>

 

[The One]

Hmmm.....

Anyone see the movie.....Me Myself and Irene?:-c :-o :-D

 

[michaelskis]

What grosses me out way more than breast-feeding in a restaurant: extremely hirsute men in tank tops, hunched over their food and shoveling it in as fast as they can.

I was on a date once and the guy suddenly demanded we leave. Well, behind me was a handicapped guy in a wheelchair who was slobbering, drooling, etc as he was being fed, and my date just couldn't handle it.

Where do you draw the line about what makes people uncomfortable. Do we ban hairy men or the disabled from restaurants?

M'skis, what do your friends, co-workers, GF think when you leave a restaurant because a woman is breast-feeding? I really am curious, this is not an attack.

I agree with hary overweight people eating thing....

One of the two times that it has happen, I was alone, the other time, the friend of mine agreed that it was not right. We asked the waiter for our check and a box to bring home the left overs.

 

[kjel]

A question for mskis.....at some point in the future if you choose to have children what will you tell the mother of your child if she wants to NIP? And if she disagrees with your point of view about it?

 

[jfc921]

kid hungry? feed him/her...

sure there will be some women who don't care about social norms and will upset other people who witness what is obviously a natural act. We can't please everyone and sometimes we should just say "build a bridge and get over it!"

 

[venividi]

Breastfeeding in Public? Why not?

It was Winston Churchill who once said that there is "no finer investment for any community than putting milk into babies. "

Breastfeeding is necessary, and should be understood as such. I think the whole thing about people being shocked has to do with society devaluing motherhood and raising kids. How many pregnant women do you see standing on the subway?

Venividi

 

[btrage]

I've said before I persoannly have no problem with it. But apparantly some people do. I don't know exactly why some people find it so offensive or disturbing but I think it is certainly their right to feel that way.

You're correct. People have the right to feel that way. They also have the right to think that there is nothing wrong with racism. I guess I'm just having a hard time understanding why such a natural thing is so disturbing to people.

 

[LadyBuc]

\

Say what you will. Personally I am very uncomfortable when I am in a restaurant and I see someone breast feeding. I have gotten up to leave before and I will continue to do that. Fortunately for me, it is a very rare occasion that this happens so I still continue to eat out on occasion. For me, there are activities that should not be done in a restaurant. These structures are intended for people to go and consume food that is prepared by the said establishment... not a mammary excretion station.

In other places such as buses, the park, department stores, and such, no problems what so ever, but in restaurants... yea, it's not something that I find acceptable. If this means that some people thing that I am a prehistoric overly conservative jerk, oh well.
I also don't think that I should be attacked for stating my personal opinion.

This is no attack, by no means...but...I am just very surprised that you found a woman that would go out with you. Seriously, no dissing your opinions, just stating my amazement :-o

 

[Bear Up North]

Odd thread and a touchy -c ) topic.

Since I have made no secret of my personal views on nudism, I see nothing wrong with breastfeeding in public.

In the long line of post responses in this thread, there were a few mentions of the sexuality thing concerning breasts. I have to say, if I see a woman breastfeeding and the breast is in view, I will turn away and give them a little privacy. OTOH, if a woman is flashing.....I am standing there looking, just like most other men (and most women).

Viva la 'differance.

It appears that those mams serve a couple of purposes.....at least in up-tight countries like this USA, where exposed breasts are not the norm.

Bear

 

[Rumpy Tunanator]

\

This is no attack, by no means...but...I am just very surprised that you found a woman that would go out with you. Seriously, no dissing your opinions, just stating my amazement :-o

I'm just amazed that he still doesn't live in his mother's basement. ;-)

I'm still not sure why people are disgusted by it. Just don't look!!!

 

[giff57]

Moderator note:

let's not turn this into a bash Mike thread please

 

[jmf]

Most of my thoughts align with the other nursing or ex-nursing moms. At first, I was not comfortable with the idea of nursing in public and I didn't until we had the routine down pat but after that it was anywhere, anytime. If all it takes to settle a fussy baby is to be nursed, why not? Would you rather hear a screaming baby or not?

My SO and I were talking about a related topic this weekend because friend's kids of the same age (almost 2) don't eat nearly as well as Isabelle does. I said I thought it had a lot to do with the fact that Isabelle was with us when we ate right from the start and as much as possible ate when we ate (plus the additional feedings as required). So it seems really starange to me not to nurse at a restaurant. She heard, smelled and saw me eat so then she was hungry!

As for how long to nurse, the World Health Organization recommends that children be nursed until they are at least 2 years old. http://www.who.int/child-adolescent-health/NUTRITION/global_strategy.htm

In Canada we are lucky because many women have the opportunity to take up to 52 weeks paid leave which makes the first year of breastfeeding easy. After that it just supplements other food sources so so it is still quite do-able. Isabelle nursed until about 13 or 14 months - after that she was just not interested.

I am not sure how the avarage woman in the US could accomplish breastfeeding until age 2 with such restrictive maternity leave benefits.

 

[michaelskis]

\

This is no attack, by no means...but...I am just very surprised that you found a woman that would go out with you. Seriously, no dissing your opinions, just stating my amazement :-o

It is because I am open minded enough where as I do not take it personally when others state opinions that differ from my own. People are people and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. She also feels the same.

It is a shame that more people are not like that and have to go get all personal when discussing a topic where the opinions differ from their own.

Moderator note:

let's not turn this into a bash Mike thread please

I am not taking any of it personally. I work code enforcement; I am use to people not liking me or what I have to say.

 

[Greenescapist]

I think women should be able to breastfeed wherever they must. I think it's rare to see it in public, but I did very recently. I was sitting outside at a cafe with a friend when noticed a women starting to feed right in my line of vision. I made a comment to my friend that it was unusual to see. Neither one of us were bothered by it and continued to drink coffee and talk.

 

[Mastiff]

BOT: Doing it anywhere is fine by me. I remember when I worked at mcdonaldsss in high school was the first time I saw it in public.

And, consequently, Rumpy's first arrest for indecent exposure!

I've said before I persoannly have no problem with it. But apparantly some people do. I don't know exactly why some people find it so offensive or disturbing but I think it is certainly their right to feel that way.

And you know what you do if you're one of those people? You do like MSkis does in a restaurant. You move. How simple is that? If you're one of the people who clucks, or worse, at a nursing mother... then you need the lesson in manners.

 

[Downtown]

It really is shameful how nursing moms are treated. One of my GFs was harrassed by her mother and neaderthal husband into nursing her 6 wk. old baby in a hot car in 100 degree texas heat so that she wouldn't NIP at her family reunion. because god forbid one of her cousins get a flash of anything.

I am not sure how the avarage woman in the US could accomplish breastfeeding until age 2 with such restrictive maternity leave benefits.

Most don't. I pumped at work for 6 months. 6 long and stressful months, and I have an insanely supportive work environment - a nice, small conference room I could pump in every 2-3 hours, but pumping ultimately took a really bad toll on my supply and it became pretty pointless by 10 mos.

 

[Jen]

:-@ that's when I become wolf bitch.

There are people who want to snatch a look to try to see something more just to get indignant or worse

 

[kjel]

It really is shameful how nursing moms are treated. One of my GFs was harrassed by her mother and neaderthal husband into nursing her 6 wk. old baby in a hot car in 100 degree texas heat so that she wouldn't NIP at her family reunion. because god forbid one of her cousins get a flash of anything.

That happened to a friend of mine who's mom didn't want her married grown brothers to see any flash of anything. After being relegated to the back bedroom several times and missing out on the merriment her brother said "Mom, she can breastfeed out here. We are grown men and have seen boobies a time or two." Mom was very embarassed, friend was relieved, and her brother was her hero.

 

[Habanero]

As a mother and as one who breastfeeds is public so often it has become a running joke as to how many places I've managed to nurse, I'm offended feeding my daughter would ever be offensive to anyone. I cover up, as do other moms that nurse in public. I was about 10 seconds away from breastfeeding on the jumbotron at a hockey game and even then, eh. It doesn't bother me to be in public watching people with horrible manners chew with their mouths open or act like fools so it shouldn't bother them that my child is nursing.
Ditto Downtown, it's hard enough to be a mom let alone a nursing/pumping mom, people should get a grip and worry about the big issues- like the state of the union or the sham of a president that got elected- that should cause more outcry than my nipple.

 

[Trail Nazi]

It seems that in the area that I am in now is very breastfeeding friendly, which is great especially since I am in that situation. In fact, while she was in babysitting one of the workers wanted to interrupt my class so that I could nurse her. I thought it was a little over the top though.

I just got this new magazine that is all about breastfeeding and it was amazing to see all of the iconography that promotes bottlefeeding in this country. How sad. It brought up a number of the same issues that were brought up in this thread.

 

[Zoning Goddess]

Study shows breast-fed kids are less anxious as they get older. (So some people want to induce diseases in our kids by protesting breast-feeding in public?):

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/14154841/

Double post, so sue me.

I am thinking about breast-feeding opponents. So, if they were enjoying a nice dinner out with wife and baby and baby gets hungry, and wife says "Here's the bottle, go sit in the car and feed the baby while your dinner gets cold" how would they feel? Second class? That seems to be a recurring theme here. They wouldn't do it! These guys seem to have no qualms whatsoever about fathering a baby and then sending the moms outside to feed them. You can breast-feed, but not in public/in front of dad/ etc. It's the moms who get sent from the room/house/restaurant. How bad is that? It really sucks. And maybe it's the husband who started it all, e.g. "we can't afford formula" or "be an earth mother and breast-feed my baby" (just not in public).

 

[Richmond Jake]

[ot]ZG: Back away from the keyboard. Go brush your teeth. Get a book and climb into bed. Read until you get really sleepy. Place book on night stand. Turn light off. Go to sleep. It's good for your blood pressure. [/ot]